Veneer-cutting machine



Gd. 1 1929. E. J. WHITTAKER 1,729,975 Y VENEER CUTTING MAJCHINE Filed June 16. 1927 ":s Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 1, 1929. wHlTTAKER 1,729,975

VENEER CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y a z:

glwuentw ZQZ Z. Jmii aejg Oct. 1,- 1929. E. .1. WHITTAKER VENEER CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jim 16, 3 SheetsSheet gwucntoz 74- @ZZW' Patented Oct. 1, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE...

EARL J. WHITTAKER, OF ABERDEEN, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR, ,BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T CHARLES P. WRIGHT AND EARL J. WI-IITTAKEB VENEER-CUTTING MACHINE Application filed June 16,

This invention relates to veneer cutting machines, and provides as its basic object a mechanism for the cutting and slicing of wood, fiber or other similar form of materials, and which machine is of few parts,

simple in construction, assembly, adjustment and operatlon, economic and efiicient 1n action, of low cost to manufacture, and which chines, and for the making of dustless slicings and cuts for using all of the materials available in the manufacture of veneer or of similar materials.

A further object of my invention is to provide means in the form of a cutter in combination with a moving saddleframe for makingvany desired cuts, feed-rolls and operating controls for blocks or timbers, so that cuts may be made parallel or inclined to any selective face-plane of such blocks or timbers in conformity with gyrating cycles of such knife, or knives.

A further object of my invention is to provide a differential motion to the knife, so that same may enter the out at relatively greater latitude or shearing speed, and to leave such out at a relatively greater departure or slicing speed, preventing, by such action, the splittingofthe cut from the block or timber under operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide in such machine, means for the establishment, operation and control of a positive even or uneven feeding of the blocks into the cutting sections of the knife, and to firmly retain such blocks or timbers in such proper position to effect the desired cuts at will.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby blocks or timbers of irregular shape may be radially or otherwise fed into the cutting sections of the knife by the controllably regulated motion of the feed-rolls engaging the ends of the blocks, thus feeding one or either end of such blocks only, and when cutting veneer to establish a 1927'. Serial No. 199,210.

quarter-cut or cut from any other angleto most advantageously expose anddisplay the grain of the wood, or otherwise to con-form to said Wood-grain in such manner thatthe strength of the veneer will be provided in such instance, and to repeat this process until the block .or timber in question is fully utilized. I V v A further object of my invention is to provide means for feeding and control of af'plurality of blocks or timbers. into the knife cutting areas, through -.the feed-rolls, Whereby such blocks or timbers may be fed and positively regulated for cutting standard or dimension veneer, or otherwise.

A further object of my invention is ,to provide in connection with the feed-rolls of such machine, novel means for holding the spalt of each timber or block and towcut said spalt into veneer or plates While such spalt is being crowded thru to the cutting areas by the timber next approaching said section of the operating machine.

V A further object of my invention is to provide in such machine a scoring, slotting or planing device which shall operate in either direction across the face of the timber or block under treatment, slotting, scoring or planing the face of the timber, or block, from which is then cut a plate or section of veneer of any desired thickness, or otherwise.

A further object of myinvention is to provide inisuch machine, means for conveying timbersor blocks across the bed-plate of said machine and into the feed-rolls, and to conductthe constant and uninterruptedpositioning for timbers or blocks into the feed-roll mechanism so that a continuous flow of feed timbers or blocks may be supplied to the cutting areas of the machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for establishing, operating, controlling and for balancing the throw of the saddle-frame and cutter, in such manner that the entry of the knife or knives into the cutting areas or sections and the retreat therefrom shall be in constant equilibrium, and that the operation of same shall produce no shocks or strains that may in any manner effect the perfect control and operation of such machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for applying and adapting power for the driving, operation and control of any and all its parts as specified herein, and to synchronize such mechanism to efiect the economy and efiiciency operable by the coordination of all its parts.

Other objects will appear by a reference to the specifications describing my invention and to the drawings illustrating the same, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved veneer cutting machine showing the position of the knife with its saddle-frame and driving mechanism, the feed-rolls and the scoring or planing frame and the driving mechanism thereof.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation of my differentialmovement disc-clutch, as viewed from line 33 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a section of the same taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of my rotary, powerdriven scoring, slotting and planing device.

Figure 6 is a central longitudinal sectional view thereof and the carriage supporting the same.

Figure 7 is a plan view of a slightly modified form of the device shown in Fig. 5; and

Figure 8 is a central longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Describing the mechanism, its action and effects, together with the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 1 designates discs which 'are assembledon shafts 2, the function of such discs being to carrycrank-pins 3 to which saddle frame 4 mounting cutter 5, is seated.

The numera14 designates the knife saddleframe of suitable form and weight, assembled and held in position when in action by the crank-pins 3, as described. Slicing and cut ting knife 5 is bolted to the lower portion of saddle frame 4, such knife being so placed that the face-planes thereof are mounted parallel to and in section with the plane of the block or timber in which they are to act to deliver a desired cut. Pin 6 is fixed to a projection of saddle-frame 4, said pin 6 mounting driving rod 7, said driving rod 7 being connected at its upper end to pin 9 on disc 8. hen disc 8 is turned by shaft 19 the rod 7 is carried downward, rotating'discs 1 by means of pins 3: the knife 5 being fixed to saddle-frame 4 is moved across the face of block feed-rolls 10 until pin 9 in said disc 8 reaches thelowest point of its arc. As pin 9 is returned to its first position by the rotation of disc 8, the knife 5 is withdrawn from the faceof the block feed-rolls 10 which are then turned by gears 11.

In Figure 2 the numeral 14 designates a connecting rod with its left end attached to a ratchet operated wheel 13, and its right end to a bell-crank 15. Carried by shaft 12 crank 16 on shaft 12 is connected to rod 17 on the upper end of which is mounted roller 18. lVhen eccentric is turned by shaft 19 said eccentric 20 moves roller 18 and rod 17 downward; an oscillating motion is thus transmitted thru bell-crank levers 14, 15 and 16 to wing 21 connected to ratchet 13, turning gears 11 by the rotation of shaft 12. Gears 11 connected to feed-rolls 10 thus turn said feed-rolls thru a desired distance of arc setting out the block or timber engaged between said feed-rolls, which movement regulates and controls the thickness of the next strip or piece to be cut off by the knife.

On rod 17 is attached spring 22 which holds roller 18 against the faceof eccentric 20. The action of this mechanism brings wing 21, attached to set-ratchet 13, back to its original position. The mechanism described is timed to regulate the projection or thrust of the section to be cut from feed-blocks or timbers when the knife 5 withdrawn from the face of the block feedrolls 10.

Numeral 10 is the feed-roll-frame mounted in groove 10', in which the said frame can be adjusted to any desired position in its bed across the machine. Numeral 23 designates suitable drive gears and friction wheels for driving the machine. Numeral 24 is a sprocket-wheel on shaft 12 for driving chain 25 and sprocket wheel 26 affixed to shaft 30. Sprocket-whee1 26 drivessprocket-wheels 27 on shaft 30 which moves chains 28 toward the block feed-rolls 10, chains 28 acting as a block-feeder moves the same distance in linear feet as is equalled by the circumferential travel of the feed-rolls 10, said chains extending parallel across the bed-plate 29.

WVheel 31, at the top of my machine, is keyed to drive-shaft 19 from which a belt 32 leads to a wheel 33. The wheel 33 is placed in a desired position on shaft 34 and is free to revolve on said shaft. On shaft 34 disc 35 is keyed: disc 35 is provided with two lugs 36 and 37 which extend into wheel 33 in which a suitable mechanism connects or engages with said lugs at timed intervals, as described in reference to Figure 4, which shows as assembly in which disc 35 is keyed to shaft 34. Lugs 36 at the top and lugs 37 at the bot tom of said disc 35, are shown entered into their working groove 38 in wheel 33. .Referring to Fig. 4, it will be noted that a pin 39 is fitted into bore 40 on top of which pin is placed spring 41: said spring retains the outer end of pin 39 engaged in groove 38. When said pin 39 is held in such position and wheel 33 is rotated on shaft 34, said pin 39 comes in contact with lug 36 on disc 35 thereby revolving said disc and, shaft with itself a one-half turn. As wheel 33 makes such and saddle-frame 4 are.

turn, an extension 42, screwed into pin 39,

having a roller 43 on its end, said roller 43 contacts cam 44 causing pin 39 to be forced back into bore 40 against spring 41, allowing theend of pin 39 to disengage and pass over lug 36 leaving said lug at that position and disc 35 at rest; as roller 43 passes off the cam 44 the pin 39 returns to its former position in groove 38 and in turn comes in contact and engages lug 37 which then occupies the position that lug 36 did at the beginning: pin 39 will then move the disc 35 by lug 37 around its axis. A repetition of this start-and-stop movement occurs as wheel 33 continues to revolve. The object of this particular movement is to allow disc 45 on shaft 46 which is driven by belt 47, coupling pulleys 46 and 34*, to stop with its pin 48 on centerline as it slides the sheave-carriage 49 back and forth on bar 50, (see Figure 1).

Cam 44 is adjustably mounted on its supporting bracket 44, said cam having slots 44 and 44 to permit horizontal and vertical adjustments thereof.

When shaft 46 (see Figure 2') turns disc 45 half way over and stops, the carriage 49 is moved along its bar 50 which in turn causes sheave-wheel 67 to pull on cable 53 the end of which cable is fastened to a suitable point on the machine frame. Such pull causes the other end of said cable 53 in its extension around sheave-wheel 54 and "attachment 73 to carriage 51, to move said carriage 51 on bars 55 and 55 across the face of the block feed-rolls 10 a distance equal to twice the throw of the disc pin 48; by the action described it will be seen that the groove cutters '56 and the scoring cutters 57, mounted in frame 52, (see Fig. 5) will score, groove or plane the face of the block engaged by and between the feed-rolls, and will, with the stop-action at the end of each stroke, remain removed and clear from in front of the block feed-rolls 10 While the cutting knife 5, being timed and driven by its mechanism, slices off the grooved section or piece from the block so scored or planed as described. The block feeding mechanism then sets the block or timber the desired thickness for another out, and the grooving or scoring mechanism on its carriage is returned by a reverse pull of the cable 58, and a parallel result is obtained as above described.

In Figure 1, brackets 59 are shown bolted to the opposite sides of the machine frame. In each are provided slots 60 and 60 inside of which slots are placed blocks 61 and 61 for gripping the ends of the bars 55 and55 on which the carriage 51 reciprocates or slides, as designated in Figure 1. Screws 62 and 62 pass thru these blocks which screws can be turned by the operator to adjust the groover carriage 51 up or down the face of the block.

In Figure 5 is shown a plan of my powerdriven groover, the numeral 56 indicating a plural number of groove cutters mounted on a shaft 63 which is driven by any suitable means, but in this case by a motor 64. The function of the groover is to plane, score or groove the feed-blocks as said grooving mechanism passes over the face of said feedblocks. Numeral. 57 represents the scoring cutters that penetrate the face of the block with a cut on each side of the score or groove to be made, such cuts to be made the desired depth and traced ahead of the groover cutters 56, forestalling the possibility of groovecutters 56 splitting or otherwise marring the outer edge of the rib that is formed between said groove cutters. By the assembly of a set of such scoring cutters (57) on each side and ahead of said groover 56, the scoring of such blocks is reciprocally permitted, as the groover moves in either direction across the face of a block. a

In Figs. 5 and 6 is shown the manner of carrying groovers 56 and scoring cutters 57 in their frames52. Said frames are provided to fit into and be fastened and adjusted in carriage 51 (see also Figure 1 as shown). The shafts 68 and 68 "pass thru said cutters 57 (see Figure 5), on which they rotate and by which they are held in place.

When frame 52 is placed in carrier 51 it is held in place by screws69 and 69 that pass thru slots 70 and 70 and will allow the screws 71 and 71 to adjust the depth of penetration, or cut, of said rollers 57 and .groovers 56. Projection 73 (see Figures 1 and-6) on carriage 51 holds the ends of cable drive 53 cut a desired width and depth of groove. 7 1

Other knives of different design are interchangeable with that shown as 74 and 74 for grooving, planing or scoring various widths of stock. Such knives are held in position for their work by bolts 7 5 and 75 and are adjustable for the purpose of regulating the depth of groove by means of adjustment slots 76 and 76", shown in Fig. 7. Numerals 7 8 and 7 8 are knife plates so placed over said-knives thus forming a clamp which by bolts 7 5 and 75 a greater area 1S provided for distributing the pressure of bolts 7 5 and 75 and by such clamping power to hold knives rigidly in the position indicated. In the operation .of such mechanismknife 74 will cut its groove as it is driven to the right over the face of a feed-block; knife 7 4* will follow in its path or groove not cutting, its cutting edge being inclined away from cutting con tact and direction: on a reversemotion of carriage 51, a similar result is obtained, providing by my assembly a reciprocating or double-cutter or grooving device. Scoring cutters 79 and 79 are of similar construction and are similarly assembled as described for Figure 5: in operation of such mechanism, said scoring-cutters cut a path ahead and on either side of the knife-edge following, thereby providing a key-way for said knife to remove, and also preventing the marring of the corners of the ribs thus formed. By removing the scoring-cutters in either of the devices described for Figures 5 and 7, and replacing the knife groovers with a straight or variable edged planer knife, the face of a feed-block or timber may be planed smooth or may be given any desired contour. The combined mechanism, as described is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, carriage-frame 51 will receive either described groover and frame, as may be required for the special purpose desired.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a machine of the character described, a cutter, means for operating the same in a curved draw-cut movement, spaced feed-rolls rotatably positioned below said cutter and defining a feeding opening therebetween, means including a ratchet for operating said rollers and for advancing the material between said rollers, a carriage adapted to be reciprocated before said rollers and timing means including a normally rotating element and a rotatable member, the latter being intermittently coupled with the former for operating said carriage alternately with said cutter.

2. In a machine of the character described, a cutter, means for operating the same in a curved draw-cut movement, spaced feed-rolls rotatably positioned below said cutter and defining a feeding opening therebetween, means including a ratchet for operating said rollers and for advancing thematerial between said rollers, a carriage adapted to be reciprocated before said rollers, timing means including a normally rotating element and a rotatable member, the latter being intermittently coupled with the former for operating said carriage alternately with said cutter, and grooving and scoring means adjustably carried by said carriage.

3. In a machine of the character described, a cutter, means for operating the same in a curved draw-cut movement, spaced feed-rolls rotatably positioned below said cutter and defining a feeding opening therebetween, means including a ratchet for operating said rollers and for advancing the material through said opening to be received by said rollers, an adjustable carriage adapted to be reciprocated before said rollers, timing means including a normally rotating element and a rotatable member, the latter being intermittently coupled with the former for operating said carriage alternately with said cutter, and grooving and scoring means adjustably carried by said carriage.

a. In a machine of the character described, a cutter, means for operating the same in a curved draw-cut movement, spaced feed-rolls rotatably positioned below said cutter and defining a feedii'ig opening therebetween, means including a ratchet for operating said rollers and for advancing the material through said ,opening to be received by said rollers, an adjustable carriage adapted to be reciprocated before said rollers, timing means for operating said carriage alternately with said cutter, said means including a normally rotatable element-and a rotatable member adapted to intermittently convey motion to said carriage and grooving and scoring means adj ustably carried by said carriage.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a cutter and means for feeding material thereto, of a groovingmechanism-supporting carriage adapted to be reciprocated before the material, a timing mechanism for operating said carriage alternately with said cutter; said mechanism including a normally rotating element having diametrically opposed projections, a rotatable member associated with said element and having a marginal groove for the reception of said projections, a spring-pressed pin carried by said member and adapted to engage a selected projection for coupling said element and member and a cam member adapted to cooperate with said pin to free the same from a projection to uncouple said element and member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' EARL J. WHITTAKER. 

